Travel Hacking

Day Flights

Day flights from the US East Coast to Europe are a special luxury. You don’t need to try to sleep on the plane!

The downside is that you burn an extra day – you wake up, spend one full day in the air, and then fall asleep somewhere. But the upside is you are in principle less groggy, or at least more in control of your discombobulation, on the other side. This has been especially nice when flying with young kids; we go out of our way to look for day flights when we think about taking them to Europe.

Here are the day flights I’m watching this year:

  • BA 238 BOS-LHR 7:30am–6:55pm (4-class 777)
  • FI 634 BOS-KEF 11:35am–9:50pm (737-MAX8, 2-2 and 3-3)
  • S4 282 BOS-PDL 11:35am–8:55pm (A320Neo, 2-2 and 3-3; will send plusgrade bid offers to book a whole row of coach or a recliner biz seat)
  • AC 868 YHZ-LHR 10:35am–8:35pm (737-Max8, 2-2 and 3-3, front sold as premium economy)
  • VS 26 JFK-LHR 8:20am–8:10pm (339 or 787-9, I took a great ride on this in the A350-1000)
  • BA 178 JFK-LHR 8:05am–8pm (4-class 777)
  • AA 142 JFK-LHR 10:15am–10:10pm (3-class 777; what is this wacky Concept D J config?)
  • B6 1107 JFK-LHR 8:34am–8:45pm (A321neo, 1-1 Mint with the stuck-open doors and 3-3 Y)
  • UA 934 EWR-LHR 8:25am–8:35pm (767)

It’s easy to stay overnight near Heathrow or even near a Tube line. (With the Elizabeth Line I’ve started really liking staying near Canary Wharf.)

These eastbound flights are often shorter than a BOS/JFK-LAX/SFO westbound and are often available for cash or miles, pretty cheap, in coach. You can book the nicer classes of service (Virgin Upper Class JFK-LHR was a great soft product in-air!) but it’s hardly necessary.

Missing you this year:

  • RC407 SWF-FAE, weekly 10:45am
  • day flights to CDG
  • S4 232 BOS-TER, 11:35am
  • UA IAD-LHR
  • AA ORD-LHR